TY  - JOUR
T1  - Haematological Parameters, Serum Biochemical Indices and Weight of Internal Organs in
Three Chicken Strains in Response to Incremental Levels of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Leaf Meal
AU - Sebola, N.A. AU - Mlambo, V. AU - Mokoboki, H.K. AU - Muchenje, V. 
JO  - Research Journal of Agronomy
VL  - 13
IS  - 1
SP  - 1
EP  - 11
PY  - 2019
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1815-9354
DO  - rjagr.2019.1.11
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=rjagr.2019.1.11
KW  - Gastrointestinal tract
KW  -haematology
KW  -indigenous chickens
KW  -internal organs
KW  -Moringa oleifera leaf meal
KW  -serum biochemistry
AB  - Continuous supplementation of chicken diets
with plant-based alternative feed resources such as
Moringa oleifera has the potential to modify the bird&#146;s
anatomy and physiology. A 90 days feeding trial was
conducted to determine the effect of M. oleifera leaf meal
supplementation on weight of internal organs,
haematological parameters and serum biochemical
indicesinthree chicken strains that are normally reared
extensively in South Africa. Moringa leaves were
harvested by hand, air-dried and milled into <i>M. Oleifera</i>
Leaf Meal (MOLM). The leaf meal was chemically
analysed and used to dilute a commercial broiler finisher
diet at 0 (MOLM0), 25 (MOLM25), 50 (MOLM50) and
100 (MOLM100) g kg<sup>&#150;1</sup> DM, producing four isoenergetic
and isonitrogenousdietary treatments. The 216
Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK), Ovambo (OV) and Black
Australorp (BA) chickens were raised on a commercial
starter mash for 3 weeks. On the 4th week, experimental
diets were offered until 13 weeks of age. At 13 weeks of
age blood samples were taken from 6 chickens (3 males
and 3 females) per treatment and used for biochemical
and haematological analysis. Higher inclusion levels
of MOLM resulted in longer small intestines and
larger gizzards in both male and female chickens.
Male BA chickens on MOLM0 diet had the least
Red Blood Cell (RBC) and haematocrit counts compared
to other diets. When offered MOLM50, female OV
chicken strain had lower Aspartate Transaminase (AST)
and alkaline phosphate (ALKP) (156.9 U L<sup>&#150;1</sup>)
compared to BA and PK chicken strains. Incremental
levels of MOLM resulted in higher Total Protein (TP)
in female chickens. In male chickens low levels of
Alanine Transaminase (ALT) were observed when
offered MOLM50 (10.0 U L<sup>&#150;1</sup>) and MOLM100
(11.0 U L<sup>&#150;1</sup>). It was concluded that inclusion of MOLM
at levels up to 10 g kg<sup>&#150;1</sup> had no adverse effect on the
health and nutritional status of the three chicken strains.
ER  -